Apparatus for securing and sealing a closure cap to a receptacle

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for securing and sealing a closure cap to a receptacle and for evacuating air from the receptacle including a head assembly actuated by an air cylinder, the head assembly including coaxially disposed outer, central and inner sleeve members slidable relative to each other, the outer sleeve member having means thereon to establish a sealed relationship with the receptacle to allow a vacuum to be pulled on the receptacle, the central sleeve having means thereon for holding a closure cap firmly in the receptacle opening, and the inner sleeve having means thereon for securing the closure cap to the receptacle.

Unite States atent 1 Nalbach et a1.

1 Jan. 22, 1974 Graeme W. Warner, l-linsdale, both of I11.

[73] Assignee: John R. Nalbach Engineering B Company, Chicago, 111.

[22 Filed: May 2,1972

21 Appl. No.: 249,514

3,545,170 12/1970 Leonard 53/88 3,380,224 4/1968 Rousseau 53/88 2,878,632 3/1959 Foresman, Jr. 53/330 2,975,575 3/1961 Nalbach et a1 53/330 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Anthony S. Zummer [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for securing and sealing a closure cap to a receptacle and for evacuating air from the receptacle including a head assembly actuated by an air cylinder, the head assembly including coaxially disposed outer, central and inner sleeve members slidable relative to each other, the outer sleeve member having means thereon to establish a sealed relationship with the receptacle to allow a vacuum to be pulled on the receptacle, the central sleeve having means thereon for holding a closure cap firmly in the receptacle opening, and the inner sleeve having means thereon for securing the closure cap to the receptacle.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR SECURING AND SEALING A CLOSURE CAP TO A RECEPTACLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for securing and sealing a closure cap to a receptacle and for evacuating air from the receptacle before the closure cap is sealed thereon.

Apparatus of the same general type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,575, which is assigned to the same assignee as the assignee of this application.

The present invention is primarily concerned with the manufacture of the receptacles or containers such as aerosol cans or the like wherein a product such as paint, toothpaste, shaving cream, etc., disposed within the receptacle is expelled therefrom by the vapor pressure developed within the receptacle by a propellant also contained in the receptacle with the dispensed product.

In the style of container described in the above mentioned patent it was customary to fill the receptacle with the desired contents before securing a closure cap member thereon. It has now become desirable to secure a closure cap member to the receptacle before the contents are placed therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide apparatus for crimping a cover onto a container, and in conjunction therewith providing means for evacuating air from the receptacle before the cover is secured to the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which may be sequentially operated first to evacuate air from a container on which a closure member is to be sealed and then to perform a crimping operation to seal the closure member to the receptacle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing description considered in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the crimping apparatus embodying the invention herein, showing the apparatus mounted on a supporting column;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational sectional view of the crimping apparatus taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational sectional view of the crimping apparatus showing the relative position of various parts at one point during the operation of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the relative position of various parts at another point during the cycle of operation of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view in section showing the relative position of some of the parts at the commencement of the crimping operation; and

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view in section showing the position of the expansible collets at the termination of the crimping operation.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters in the several views designate similar elemerits, l0 designates generally the vacuum crimper ap paratus embodying the invention herein. The apparatus 10 includes a vacuum crimper head assembly I l operated by an air cylinder assembly 12. The head assembly and air cylinder are mounted on a vertically disposed column support 13 which in turn is secured to a mounting base 141. A rack and pinion arrangement 15 is provided for vertical adjustment of the crimper head assembly and air cylinder. The apparatus 10 is adapted to secure onto a receptacle 16 a closure cap member 17.

The crimper head assembly 11 comprises a mandrel 20, an inner sleeve member or housing 21, a central sleeve member 22 and an outer sleeve member or vacuum hub 23, expansible collet means 24, and a collet expander 25.

The manderel is attached to the lower end of a piston rod 26, by a suitable pin and collar arrangement 27. The piston rod is part of the air cylinder arrangement 11 which is adapted by suitable controls to move the piston rod 26 up and down carrying with it the mandrel 20. O-ring sealing means 29 are disposed on outer periphery of the mandrel 20 at its lower end.

The inner sleeve member 21 comprises an elongated cylindrical sleeve formed with a bore 30 for slidingly receiving the mandrel 20 therein. A counterbore 31 formed in the upper end of the inner sleeve member 21 has disposed therein a compression spring 32. A pair of circular flanges 33 and 34, together with a pin 35, are disposed in the upper end of the counterbore 31 and held in place by a snap ring 36 to hold the spring 32 positioned within the counterbore 31. The lower end of the inner sleeve member 21 is formed with a counterbore 37 to form a shoulder 38 to provide a support for the collet means 24 as hereinafter further explained. The lower end of the sleeve member 21 has formed therein a circumferential groove 40, for receiving therein an O-ring seal member 41. The upper end of the inner sleeve member 21 is formed with a radially extended flange portion 42. A sealing relationship between the mandrel 20, and the inner sleeve member 21 is provided by the O-ring sealing means 29 on the mandrel 20.

The central sleeve member 22 comprises an elongated cylindrical sleeve formed with a central bore 44 for slidably receiving therein the inner sleeve member 21. A counterbore 45 is formed in the upper end of the central sleeve member 22 and together with the periphcry of the inner sleeve member and the radially extending flange 42, the counterbore 45 provides a chamber for the compression spring 46. The spring 46 provides a lost motion connection between the central sleeve 22 and outer sleeve 23. A snap ring 47, in the upper end of the central sleeve member 22, secures the inner sleeve member within the central sleeve member. A retaining ring 48 is secured to the upper end of the central sleeve member 22 on its outer periphery. The lower end of the central sleeve member 22 is formed with a radially extending flange 48' into which is threadedly inserted a cap seat 49. The cap seat 49 is a ring member formed with a radially inwardly extending portion which defines on its lower side and inner edge an anvil surface 50 which is arcuately shaped in cross-section and corresponds approximately to the curvature of the outer surface of the closure cap flange so that it may engage a large portion of the closure cap flange and hold the closure cap firmly in place when the closure cap is secured to the container. The threaded connection 51 permits vertical adjustment of the cap seat 49 to obtain a greater or lesser depth or height H of crimp in the wall of the closure cap. Moving the cap seat 49 upwardly will give a greater height of crimp. Lock means 510 are provided between the flange 48 and cap seat 49. O-ring sealing means 52 are also disposed on the outer periphery of the lower end of the central sleeve member 22.

An accordion type boot 53 is connected to the upper end of the sleeve member 22 by a strap clamp 54 and the upper end of the accordion boot is connected to the collar 27 by another strap clamp 55. This accordion boot keeps dirt out of the apparatus.

The outer sleeve member or vacuum hub 23 comprises a cylindrical sleeve which is slidably fitted on and secured to the lower end of the central sleeve member 22. The upper end of the vacuum hub is formed with a counterbore 56 which together with a ring flange 57 attached to the outer periphery of sleeve member 22 defines a chamber in which compression spring 58 is disposed. The spring 58 is a stronger spring than spring 46 but weaker than spring 32. Diametrically opposed vertically oriented elongated slots 60 are formed in the vacuum hub 23 and are adapted to receive therethrough bolts 61 which are threaded into the central sleeve member 22. These slots and bolts are used to limit movement of the vacuum hub with respect to the central sleeve member 22. A port 62 is formed in the lower end of the sleeve member 23 which provides a connection for a conduit 63 leading to a source of vac uum. A cylindrical ring 64 is disposed in the lower end of the vacuum hub 23 and a seal ring 65 is positioned in the ring 64. The seal ring 65 is disposed in such a manner that it is adapted to contact the chim 66 of the receptacle onto which the closure cap to be secured. A seal member 67 is also disposed between the ring 64 and lower end of the vacuum hub 23.

The collet expander 25 is attached to the lower end of the mandrel by means ofa bolt 70. The upper end of the expander is inserted into a bore 71 in the lower end of the mandrel 20. The expander is formed with a bore 72 extending substantially the full length of the expander and this bore is adapted to receive the value closure cap stem during the crimping operation. The lower end of the expander is formed with a frustoconical shaped camming tip 73 which is adapted to engage the inner faccs of the collet to expand the collet.

The expandable and contractable crimping collet 24 is mounted in the lower end of the inner sleeve 21. It comprises a plurality of segmental jaws or fingers 75. Each of the fingers has an arcuate radially extending rounded rib 76 formed on its upper end which is positioned between the shoulder 38 and a retaining ring 77 secured in place by a snap ring 78. A circular coiled spring 79 surrounding the collet jaws at approximately their mid point holds the collet assembly in a contracted position.

Means are also provided for adjusting the diameter D of the crimp put in the wall of the closure cap member. A support plate 80 extending parallel to the mounting base 14 is attached to the column 13 by suitable means (not shown). A stop plate 81 is disposed below the support plate 80 and is adjustably suspended therefrom by a pair of support posts 82 only one of which is shown. A pair of knurled adjusting nuts 83 and 84 on each of the support posts 82 allows the stop plate 81 to be adjusted up or down to control the diameter D of the crimp to be put into the wall of the closure cap member. To increase the diameter D of the crimp the stop plate 81 is raised by the adjusting nuts 83 and 84, and to decrease it the stop plate 81 is lowered by the adjusting nuts.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. The receptacle 16 on which a closure cap 17 is to be secured is positioned under the vacuum crimping head 11 causing an air sensing switch (not shown) to be opened. Through a valving arrangement (not shown) the air cylinder 12 through the piston rod 26 starts driving the vacuum crimping head 11 onto the receptacle. The rubber seal member 65 on the bottom of the vacuum hub 23 seals on the chim 66 of the container 16 as shown in FIG. 3. This stops the downward travel of the vacuum hub and central tube member 22. The air cylinder and its attached piston rod 26 continue to drive downward and in the downward movement the retaining ring 48 actuates an air switch (not shown) which in turn actuates a valve (not shown) which causes a vacuum source to be opened to the vacuum hub 23 and container 16 through conduit 63. The piston rod 26 of the air cylinder assembly continues its downward movement at a slow rate causing the spring 46 to compress and allowing the inner sleeve member 21 to move downwardly until the lower end thereof bottoms on the upper surface of the radially extending flange 48 formed on the lower end of the central sleeve member 22. The spring 46 is the first to compress because it is a weaker spring than the springs 32 and 58, and these latter two springs do not compress at this time. As the spring 46 compresses, air in the container 16 is being evacuated by the vacuum source through port 62. It will be noted here that a vacuum chamber has been created within the vacuum crimper by provision throughout the apparatus of the various sealing means between the sleeve members such, for example, as the sealing means 29, 41, 52, 65 and 67. At this point the anvil surface 50 is not yet in contact with the annular flange 18 of the closure cap member.

The piston rod 26 of the air cylinder then continues its further downward movement causing the vacuum hub spring 58 to compress bringing the anvil surface 50 on the cap seat 49 into contact with the annular flange 18 on the valve closure member 17. As the valve closure member 17 seats on the container 16 the retaining ring 48 bottoms on a stop plate 81 which is secured by appropriate means to the column support 13. This, of course, causes the central sleeve member 22 to stop moving downward. The air cylinder piston rod 26 now continues to move downward compressing the crimp spring 32 which is the strongest of the three springs and the last in the sequence to compress. As the piston rod 26 moves downwardly carrying with it the mandrel 20 the frustoconical surface 73 of the collet expander 25 contacts the sections of the expandible collet 24 to expand the collet to the position as shown in FIG. 6. The expansion of the jaws of the collet 24 crimps or expands the wall section of the closure cap 17 into tight engagement with the bead formed on the container 16. A suitable gasket carried by the underside of the annular flange 18 of the closure cap is tightly compressed between the flange and the bead of the container to form a permanent leak-proof joint.

As the air cylinder piston rod reaches the bottom of its stroke an air switch (not shown) built into the cylinder, shifts a valve (not shown) which is effective to cut off the vacuum source and also shifts another valve (not shown) causing the air cylinder and the piston rod 26 and the mandrel to retract.

At the end of the capping operation the piston rod 26 is retracted causing the mandrel 20 and the attached collet expander to be elevated relative to the collet 24 and the inner sleeve 21 until the circular flange 33 contacts the snap ring 36 which acts as a stop member. As the piston rod 26 continues to rise the mandrel and inner sleeve member rise in unison. As the inner sleeve member is lifted from its seating position on the radially extending flange 48 of the central sleeve member 21 the spring 58 urges the central sleeve member and the cap seat 49 upwardly away from the closure cap 17. As the piston rod 26 proceeds further upwardly the spring 46 disposed between the inner and central sleeve members expands lifting the inner sleeve member relative to the central sleeve member until the radial flange 42 of the inner sleeve member contacts the stop member snap ring 47. At that point continued upward movement of the piston rod 26 carries with it the entire vacuum crimper head assembly lifting the vacuum hub from its contact with the chim 66 on the container 16.

It will be apparent that I have advantageously provided apparatus for completing in one operation the evacuation of air from a receptacle and securing and sealing a closure member in the receptacle opening after such evacuation.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be appreciated that this is shown by way ofexample only, and the invention is not limited thereto. Other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its full est possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

In apparatus for securing a closure cap member into the opening of a receptacle the combination comprising: inner, central and outer sleeve members coaxially disposed in slidable relation with each other; mandrel means slidably disposed in and adapted to extend through said inner sleeve, said mandrel being adapted to be moved downwardly and carry with it said inner, central and outer sleeve members; seal means disposed between said sleeve members and between said inner sleeve member and mandrel; annular seal means associated with the lower end of said outer sleeve and adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with the receptacle into which a closure cap member is to be se cured, said annular seal means when engaged with the receptacle creating an air tight chamber within the apparatus; outlet means associated with said apparatus and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum for pulling a vacuum on the receptacle; means operatively associated with said central sleeve member for holding the closure cap member firmly in the opening of the receptacle; means operatively associated with said inner sleeve member for securing the closure cap member in the receptacle opening; first lost motion means operatively associated with said inner sleeve and central sleeve members to allow said inner sleeve member and its associated collet means to be moved relative to said central sleeve into a predetermined position with respect to said central sleeve member; and second lost motion means operatively associated with said central sleeve member and said outer sleeve member to allow the central sleeve member and its associated cap seat member to move relative to said outer sleeve member into engagement with the closure cap member to seat the latter in the receptacle opening after the relative movement between said inner sleeve and said central sleeve.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second lost motion means comprises a compression spring member surrounding said central sleeve member.

3. ln apparatus for securing a closure cap member into the opening of a receptacle the combination comprising: inner, central and outer sleeve members coaxially disposed in slidable relation with each other; mandrel means slidably disposed in and adapted to extend through said inner sleeve, said mandrel being adapted to be moved downwardly and carry with it said inner, central and outer sleeve members; seal means disposed between said sleeve members and between said inner sleeve member and mandrel; annular seal means associated with the lower end of said outer sleeve and adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with the receptacle into which a closure cap member is to be secured, said annular seal means when engaged with the receptacle creating an air tight chamber within the apparatus; outlet means associated with said apparatus and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum for pulling a vacuum on the receptacle; means operatively associated with said central sleeve member for holding the closure cap member firmly in the opening of the receptacle; means operatively associated with said inner sleeve member for securing the closure cap member in the receptacle opening; first lost motion means operatively associated with said inner sleeve and central sleeve members to allow said inner sleeve member and its associated collet means to be moved relative to said central sleeve into a predetermined position with respect to said central sleeve member; said first lost motion means comprises a first compression spring member surrounding said inner sleeve member; and second lost motion means operatively associated with said central sleeve member and said outer sleeve member to allow the central sleeve member and its associated cap seat member to move relatively with respect to said outer sleeve member into engagement with the closure cap member to seat the latter in the receptacle opening, said second lost motion means comprising a compression spring surrounding said central sleeve member which is stronger than said first spring member.

4. The combination of claim 1 including third lost motion means operatively associated with said mandrel and said inner sleeve member to allow said mandrel and its associated collet expander to move to a predetermined position with respect to said inner sleeve member.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said third lost motion means comprises a third com pression spring member surrounding said mandrel.

6. The combination of claim 3 including third lost motion means operatively associated with said mandrel and said inner sleeve member to allow said mandrel and its associated collet expander to move to a predetermined position with respect to said inner sleeve member,

said third lost motion means comprising a third compression spring member surrounding said mandrel which is stronger than said first or second spring member. 

1. In apparatus for securing a closure cap member into the opening of a receptacle the combination comprising: inner, central and outer sleeve members coaxially disposed in slidable relation with each other; mandrel means slidably disposed in and adapted to extend through said inner sleeve, said mandrel being adapted to be moved downwardly and carry with it said inner, central and outer sleeve members; seal means disposed between said sleeve members and between said inner sleeve member and mandrel; annular seal means associated with the lower end of said outer sleeve and adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with the receptacle into which a closure cap member is to be secured, said annular seal means when engaged with the receptacle creating an air tight chamber within the apparatus; outlet means associated with said apparatus and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum for pulling a vacuum on the receptacle; means operatively associated with said central sleeve member for holding the closure cap member firmly in the opening of the receptacle; means operatively associated with said inner sleeve member for securing the closure cap member in the receptacle opening; first lost motion means operatively associated with said inner sleeve and central sleeve members to allow said inner sleeve member and its associated collet means to be moved relative to said central sleeve into a predetermined position with respect to said central sleeve member; and second lost motion means operatively associated with said central sleeve member and said outer sleeve member to allow the central sleeve member and its associated cap seat member to move relative to said outer sleeve member into engagement with the closure cap member to seat the latter in the receptacle opening after the relative movement between said inner sleeve and said central sleeve.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second lost motion means comprises a compression spring member surrounding said central sleeve member.
 3. In apparatus for securing a closure cap member into the opening of a receptacle the combination comprising: inner, central and outer sleeve members coaxially disposed in slidable relation with each other; mandrel means slidably disposed in and adapted to extend through said inner sleeve, said mandrel being adapted to be moved downwardly and carry with it said inner, central and outer sleeve members; seal means disposed between said sleeve members and between said inner sleeve member and mandrel; annular seal means associated with the lower end of said outer sleeve and adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with the receptacle into which a closure cap member is to be secured, said annular seal means when engaged with the receptacle creating an air tight chamber within the apparatus; outlet means associated with said apparatus and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum for pulling a vacuum on the receptacle; means operatively associated with said central sleeve member for holding the closure cap member firmly in the opening of the receptacle; means operatively associated with said inner sleeve member for securing the closure cap member in the receptacle opening; first lost motion means operatively associated with said inner sleeve and central sleeve members to allow said inner sleeve member and its associated collet means to be moved relative to said central sleeve into a preDetermined position with respect to said central sleeve member; said first lost motion means comprises a first compression spring member surrounding said inner sleeve member; and second lost motion means operatively associated with said central sleeve member and said outer sleeve member to allow the central sleeve member and its associated cap seat member to move relatively with respect to said outer sleeve member into engagement with the closure cap member to seat the latter in the receptacle opening, said second lost motion means comprising a compression spring surrounding said central sleeve member which is stronger than said first spring member.
 4. The combination of claim 1 including third lost motion means operatively associated with said mandrel and said inner sleeve member to allow said mandrel and its associated collet expander to move to a predetermined position with respect to said inner sleeve member.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said third lost motion means comprises a third com-pression spring member surrounding said mandrel.
 6. The combination of claim 3 including third lost motion means operatively associated with said mandrel and said inner sleeve member to allow said mandrel and its associated collet expander to move to a predetermined position with respect to said inner sleeve member, said third lost motion means comprising a third compression spring member surrounding said mandrel which is stronger than said first or second spring member. 